| Eating right is not the only thing children need to do | | | | able to bend and move their bodies any normal way |
| to stay healthy. They also need exercise. Exercise | | | | without being injured or causing aches. Children can |
| should be a daily routine with anybody, including | | | | become quicker by being more fit. Losing flexibility |
| children. Sports are healthy and fun and can include | | | | with age is not uncommon but can be retarded by |
| but are not limited to riding a bike, jogging, soccer, | | | | exercising throughout life. Staying fit as a child helps |
| dancing, skiing, basketball, swimming, and football. | | | | you stay fit throughout life. |
| Children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of | | | | To maintain proper weight one must exercise. During |
| exercise every day of the week. | | | | pre-puberty years, almost twelve percent of children |
| There are many reasons why physical fitness is a | | | | are overweight. Physical activities help burn calories |
| must. Good physical fitness increases cardiovascular | | | | and fat and even help cut down their appetite. Be a |
| endurance. Heart disease is a leading cause of death | | | | good role model! You children do what you do. Show |
| in Americans. Being fit can help prevent heart | | | | them you think physical fitness is well needed too. |
| problems. Also, these activities can help the heart | | | | Exercise with them, or even without them, but let it |
| pump blood in a more efficient way. This reduces the | | | | be known to them that you do exercise too. |
| chance of high blood pressure. These are not the | | | | Stress that is unmanaged does a lot more to your |
| only disease and conditions that can be prevented | | | | child's body then you may think. It can cause muscle |
| from good physical fitness. Some other diseases | | | | tightness which could lead to headaches, |
| prevented from physical fitness include: diabetes, | | | | stomachaches and many other kinds of pains. |
| colon cancer, and bone fractures. | | | | Managing and dealing with stress is very important to |
| Exercise also improves large muscle strength and | | | | learn so your child can go on living a normal and |
| endurance. As your child builds his muscles, he will be | | | | healthy life. |
| able to exercise for longer amounts of time. Stronger | | | | Daily exercise can help children sleep better at night |
| muscles can help prevent injuries because they | | | | and help them feel better about themselves. Your |
| support the joints better. Sit-ups can increase lung | | | | child will be more ready to learn in school and have |
| capacity, help prevent back injuries and strengthen | | | | healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Help promote this |
| abdominal muscles. A good exercise for strengthening | | | | by joining in. Parents need to stay healthy also. |
| his upper body could include pull-ups. | | | | Explain to your children why physical fitness is a |
| The more your child works out the more flexible he | | | | must, not only now, but also for later in life. |
| will become. To be completely fit your child should be | | | | |